Jim Hirni, a former lobbyist who pleaded guilty to treating congressional staffers to a World Series jaunt in 2003, is now helping ex-Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum organize events in South Carolina as Santorum tests the water for a possible presidential bid.

By JASON SPENCERjason.spencer@shj.com

A former lobbyist who pleaded guilty to treating congressional staffers to a World Series jaunt in 2003 is now helping ex-Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum organize events in South Carolina as Santorum tests the water for a possible presidential bid.Jim Hirni, who was convicted of one count of “honest services fraud” in 2008, accompanied Santorum to multiple public and private events in the Upstate this week, including stops at Oakbrook Preparatory School and the Carolina Pregnancy Center.In 2004, Hirni worked for Jack Abramoff, a now disgraced lobbyist who has served time in prison following felony fraud, corruption and conspiracy convictions. Hirni said his work at Abramoff's firm lasted only a few months.In the past, Hirni worked for Santorum, and served as a senior aide on Capitol Hill for the likes of Sen. Bill Frist of Tennessee and other Republicans. As a lobbyist, he once counted corporate giant Walmart among his clients.“I've known Jim for a long, long time,” Santorum said. “When he was going through his difficulties, I tried to help him, and counsel him and get him on the right path. I think he's done a good job. I'm really proud of the way he's turned his life around. Coming down to South Carolina has been a great blessing for him. The people here have been terrific to him. I give him a lot of credit.”Hirni now lives in Daniel Island and runs a small consulting and fundraising company. He said he teaches a Bible Study class at Seacoast Church in Mount Pleasant. He's awaiting sentencing.“I'm so distant from it. I'm such in a different place, both as an individual and spiritual,” Hirni said.“I don't think about it. I don't say every day, ‘What's going on in my life?' I just sort of get up and say, ‘What can I do different today?' I'm teaching Bible study. And none of those guys have left my Bible study because I'm awaiting sentencing. It's like, I'm just one of those guys. I'm not trying to make money, I'm not trying to apply for jobs. I'm just trying to be a good dad — which I wasn't in D.C. In D.C., I was good at making money and doing all those really good things to be a powerful lobbyist. I wasn't a good dad and husband. I didn't focus on that. Now, it is what it is. I feel better about it.”In 2008, Hirni admitted giving two Senate staff members a trip to the first game of the World Series, plus travel and board, a $400 steak dinner and a $600 foray at a strip club five years earlier. In return, an amendment was added to a bill to benefit a company he represented, according to multiple news reports.Hirni said his efforts to help Santorum in South Carolina have been strictly volunteer, and that he doesn't plan to work for a presidential campaign.“By the mistake I've made, I've been given everything,” he said. “My marriage is unbelievable. My relationship with my 8-year-old daughter is awesome. I live in Charleston. I go to Seacoast Church. I don't have any money, but God will provide.”

Santorum said the two men got to know each other largely through playing fantasy baseball — American League only, so the former senator wouldn't be tempted to play against any of the Pirates, a National League team to which his loyalty lies.“The perception in the media that folks who are conservatives and Christians are judgmental and mean-spirited and all that kind of stuff — it's just the opposite,” Santorum said. “Christians know we're all sinners, we all make mistakes, we all have done things we wish we haven't done. The key is forgiveness, and being able to help people get on the right path.”Santorum said he had two staff members on the ground in Iowa, with a third to be hired shortly. He said he had one main player on hand in New Hampshire, with more coming “relatively soon.” In South Carolina, another key early-primary state, he said he's been talking to people but is “taking it slower” here.In October 2010, The State newspaper in Columbia reported that Hirni had been helping the state Republican Party organize events. Hirni also had worked for Republican operative Wesley Donehue, who had been paid at least $34,000 by the state Republican Party at that point, the paper reported.

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